and sakrān (intoxicated) and lahfān (anguished) for someone filled with the corresponding state? The pattern faʿlān thus conveys vastness and comprehensiveness. For this reason, His rising over the Throne is frequently linked to this name, as in His words:
“The All-Merciful rose over the Throne.” (20:5)
“Then He rose over the Throne—the All-Merciful.” (25:59)
He thus rose over His Throne as the All-Merciful, for the Throne surrounds all created things and encompasses them. Mercy likewise surrounds creation and encompasses it, as He Most High says:
“My mercy encompasses all things.” (7:156)
Thus He rose over the most encompassing of created things with the most encompassing of attributes. Hence His mercy encompasses all things.
In an authentic hadith, Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When Allah completed creation, He wrote in a book, which is with Him, placed upon the Throne: ‘My mercy prevails over My wrath.’”
Another wording reads: “It is deposited with Him upon the Throne.”
Reflect on how this book is devoted specifically to the mention of mercy, and how He placed it with Him upon the Throne. Consider the correspondence between this and His words, “The All-Merciful rose over the Throne,” and His words:
“Then He rose over the Throne—the All-Merciful. So ask about Him one who is well informed.” (26:156)
A great door to knowledge of the Lord—blessed and exalted is He—will open to you, provided that negation of the divine attributes and Jahmī doctrine do not shut it against you.
The attributes of justice, constriction and expansion, lowering and raising, giving and withholding, granting honor and bringing humiliation, subjugation and judgment, and the like are most closely associated with the name “the King.” He associated this name specifically with the Day of Recompense—the day of just requital—because He alone will exercise judgment on that Day. It is also the Day of Truth, while everything preceding it is but an hour; it is the final destination, and the days of this world are stages leading to it.
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Reflect on the connection of creation and command with these three names: “Allah,” “the Lord,” and “the All-Merciful.” How have creation, command, reward, and punishment arisen from them?